About the Story

"God, why do you keep showing me people who are hurting, confused, or looking for answers, and yet I can’t seem to reach them or help them?"

I had just finished a nice four mile trail run on my favorite mountain. I decided to stop by the local convenience store at the bottom of the mountain to pick up a chocolate milk for my quick exercise recovery drink. As I walked up to the front doors of the store I noticed a young lady pushing shopping carts towards the entrance. As I got closer I noticed she was an employee collecting the carts from the parking lot, but her head was pointed down so I didn’t get a chance to make eye contact and say hello. Her posture suggested she was quite unhappy. I slowed down to let her get inside the store before me and she muttered as best she could, “Thanks.”

I got the milk and as I approached the checkout counter I noticed she was checking people out. I made a conscious decision that I was going to cheer her up with a nice big, friendly, smile.

My good intentions were being foiled however, by the fact that she spent the entire checkout process looking down and never once would she make eye contact with me. As I looked at her, unlike in years past where I might have thought to myself “Geeeesh, someone needs to get a new job”, instead I felt deep compassion for her. She looked miserable…I could see emotional pain in her body language and I knew she was likely going through something very difficult. There were others in line behind me so I collected my change and began leaving the store. Feelings of frustration began to grip me because I knew I had something I could share with her that would help her so much, and even though she was standing right in front of me it seemed like we were across the Grand Canyon from one another. I couldn’t reach her.

As I walked to my car my disappointment turned to frustration. I got in my car and said, “God, I have no idea what that young lady is going through, but I feel compassion for her and I know it would impact her life if I could just tell her the story of your UNBELIEVABLE faithfulness in my life and prove to her that you not only care about her, but that she can absolutely trust you with her life."

She hadn't been the only one like this. I had been seeing for weeks, similar people at the Starbucks that I often work from. I continued in my lament to God...

"God, why do you keep showing me people who are hurting, confused or looking for answers and yet I can’t seem to reach them or help them?"

A burning desire began to build in my heart to make a difference to "one person". If I could just be a part of God helping one person, with my testimony, I would be thrilled. A few days later, with virtually no resources, I began remembering the importance of taking what you already have, in your heart and hands, right now, to serve others.

The idea for this project became God’s answer to my prayer. I saw a vision of me handing out a small card to people, just like her, that the Lord brings across my path or lays on my heart. Thanks to the Lord, the dream is alive! Here is one example of what happens when I hand out the cards...

This was a complete stranger, whom the Lord had laid on my heart at a Starbucks. I had no idea what he was going through, but I sensed he was struggling. I handed him a card and after he watched the story, he sent me this email. I met with him afterwards and learned that he was just weeks away from a terrible custody battle court hearing. He was desperately trying to defend himself against false accusations that could prevent him from ever seeing his little girl. He was angry, hurting, and so confused about what to do and about how to defend himself. I was able to meet with him and encourage him in how to trust the Lord, for his defense. Weeks later, with all odds stacked against him, God gave him victory in the court and he ended up getting more than adequate time sharing with his beautiful little girl, whom I got to meet and fell in love with. He concluded, if the Lord can do this for Michael, he can do this for me. Him seeing the story of what God had done in my behalf, gave him the courage to trust the Lord on his behalf. Our Father is so FAITHFUL!!